It may be harmful to go on and off antidepressants a few times a year. Patients should give themselves several weeks to taper off, the American Psychiatric Association advises.

Renee Binder, M.D., president of the American Psychiatric Association, tells The New York Times it may be harmful to only occasionally use antidepressants.

You should always start and stop medication “under a physician’s supervision. Don’t do it on your own,” said Dr. Binder.

Antidepressants “don’t work right away,” Dr. Binder said. “It’s the kind of medication that you have to take every single day, and it takes a while to build up in your body before it starts working.”

In addition, abrupt cessation can trigger withdrawal symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and “brain zaps,” a sensation that feels like electric shocks to the head. It can also trigger psychological problems like anxiety, irritability, moodiness, and changes in appetite and sleep that mimic depression or may signal a recurrence. Some patients may become paranoid or suicidal.

“You never want to stop cold turkey,” Dr. Binder said. “You want to cut back very slowly and carefully, with medical management.”